Sustain Renew Collaborate - Sligo Arts Plan 2020 2025
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Sustain
Renew
Collaborate
Sligo Arts Plan
2020 - 2025
Contents
Foreword 3
Chapter 1
Introduction 17
Chapter 2
Vision, Mission and Objectives 21
Chapter 3
The Role of Sligo Arts Service 25
Chapter 4
Future Direction 29
Chapter 5
The Legislative Framework 33
Chapter 7
Profile County Sligo 39
Chapter 8
Strategic Priorities 49
Chapter 9
Conclusion 55
Appendix 1 & 2 58
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
2 3
Sustain
County Sligo is a vibrant, artistic county that supports a dynamic, diverse
and engaging range of artist livelihoods and arts experiences. The arts
make a positive contribution to the lives of individuals and communities.
The value of arts and culture to society is best understood when we try to
imagine a society without the humanizing influence of the arts. The arts
Renew
represent much of what is pleasurable in everyday life, as well as much
that is educationally critical and socially essential. Without personal
expression through the arts, the world would be static and sterile – no
creative arguments about the past, no diverse and stimulating present
and no dreams of the future.
Collaborate
County Sligo Arts Service for the past 20 years has been to the forefront of cultural development
in the county across a range of services and facilities. The challenging economic and social
environment within which the local authority has operated has curtailed ambitious plans and
limited development over the past number of years but it has not quelled artistic vision and
ambition on the part of the arts community in Sligo.
County Sligo Arts Plan 2020 –2025 presents Sligo County Council with an opportunity to restate
the value it places on art and artists. The Plan aims to renew Sligo County Council’s role as
a leading development agency and strategic partner in arts development. Through a range of
responsive and new programmes, the local authority will invigorate the artistic and creative life of
Sligo with additional resources including new funding streams, connection and co-ordination and
deepened relationships among artists and communities.
An agreement between the Arts Council and the County and City Management Association, entitled
A Framework for Collaboration, in its ‘Statement of Common Purpose’, says of the arts:
The arts have had demonstrable impact across the three
key pillars of local development; culture; community
and economy... We share a conviction about the
intrinsic value of the arts and culture in people’s lives
and we acknowledge the distinctive and important
contribution that artists and the arts make to society.
4 5
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
6 7
Music Generation, Tuned In!
8
Three Bridges
9
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
10
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
11
12
Goofy Groom
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
13
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
14 15
Kiera OToole_Day 3 ‘Drawing Wonder’ III,
chalk, algae and sea water on concrete structure,
Dunmoran Strand, Sligo.
16
Introduction
1
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
17‘Contemporary
artists in Sligo
Brian Leyden, writer and broadcaster, frequently draws
on the landscape of County Sligo to feed his imagination
and ours. Borrowing from Sligo’s own poet, WB Yeats,
he recently evoked the richness of the cultural life of
continually explore
the county, which resembles ‘Heavens embroidered
cloths’. He goes on to say: ‘Contemporary artists in Sligo
continually explore and express the mythic richness of
the Sligo landscape, and the imaginative breadth and
depth of its cultural community. Each makes his or her
and express the
own mark, mines Yeats’s extraordinary life’s work for
contemporary resonance and, between beaches and hills,
stage and create new work in the magnificent theatre
without walls, the Sligo landscape’.
mythic richness of It is no surprise that Sligo is home to many thriving and connected
communities of artists, creative people and organizations, working in a
diverse range of forms and genres. They are visible and recognized for the
quality of their thinking, work and contribution to society. The social and
the Sligo landscape,
economic benefits they bring to the county are understood and valued.
People of all ages and from different types of communities from all parts
of the county can have deep and meaningful engagement with arts and
creativity.
and the imaginative
Now and in the future, this Plan will underpin the work of artists and creative
people through both financial and empathetic support, so that they have
time and space to develop their practice and produce thoughtful, inspiring,
high-quality work. Closer collaboration with national agencies including
heritage, language, artists, arts organizations, cultural venues and creative
breadth and depth
enterprises will lead to the best use of resources across urban and rural
communities. Arts, creativity and culture will continue to be recognized and
celebrated by communities and policy makers alike. Locally distinctive work
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
will be valued and encouraged.
of its cultural
community...’
18 19Vision,
Mission &
Objectives
of County
Sligo Arts
Service
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
20
2 21Vision Mission
To create an environment where the intrinsic value County Sligo Arts Service works in partnership with
of the arts is widely recognized across all sectors key stakeholders to deliver a high-quality arts service
of society and to support an ecosystem where the for the people of Sligo and to promote greater public
arts thrive to the benefit of artists, communities and involvement in the arts in a wide range of social and
visitors to the county. We aim to make Sligo a place community settings. The Arts Service also works with
where everyone actively values and celebrates arts and the arts community to promote culture and creativity
creativity as central to all of our lives; which continually as an expression of contemporary Sligo at national and
extends its imagination and ways of doing things; and international level.
where the arts and culture are confident, connected
and thriving. Sligo Arts Service will work to consolidate artistic
activity and to strengthen and promote its position in
the broader national and international context. This
will be progressed by integrating the arts into Sligo
County Council’s cultural, social, economic and tourism
development policies and by working in partnership
with the broader social and economic framework and
key stakeholders in Sligo and the region, to ensure the
arts are central to civic life in Sligo.
The Plan is dynamic and will be reviewed midway
through the five-year timescale to allow for its
reorientation where necessary. Evaluation of newly-
introduced or reinstated funding schemes and
programmes will allow for the Plan to be reflective and
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
responsive.
22 23Role of
Sligo Arts
Service
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
24
3 25Sligo Arts Service sits in the Directorate of Planning, Community and Economic Sligo Arts Service also works with the arts community to promote culture and
Development, Arts and Culture. The Head of Arts is the County Librarian who reports creativity as an expression of contemporary Sligo at national and international level.
to the Director of Services.
The core values underpinning the work of Sligo Arts Service include:
Director of Services
»» to promote the value of the arts as an essential component in building balanced, inclusive
communities with a sense of their own identity
»» to promote inclusiveness and wider access for all citizens who wish to be involved in the arts
County Librarian
»» to develop and deliver an arts service in a fair, open and transparent manner
»» to develop sustainable policies in consultation with the various departments of Sligo County
Council, relevant organizations and community groups in the context of local, national and
Sligo Arts Service: international arts policies and trends.
Public Art Officer + Specialist Officer
Since 2014, the staffing levels of Sligo Arts Service have been much depleted with the loss
of the Arts Officer position and two staff members taking a secondment and a career break,
The role of Sligo Arts Service is to encourage, foster and support cultural activity in Sligo thereby reducing the staffing to one person until the secondment ceased at the end of 2018.
through a policy-based approach. Sligo local authority has played a crucial role in supporting
the vibrant arts and cultural sector ‘making available high-quality experiences across the arts In view of this changed environment, Sligo Arts Service has been functioning but not reaching
to the benefit of Sligo’s citizens, visitors and artists’ (Sligo Arts Service, Space for Art 2007– its full potential. Arts officers are a crucial resource at local level, working strategically,
2012). In 2007, Sligo Arts Service aimed ‘to ensure that Sligo’s long-standing reputation as representing the arts in the county at local and national level and leading out on partnerships
a “cultural county” is secured and built upon’ (ibid.). Between 2007 and 2013, Sligo County and imaginative approaches to ensuring that both artists and communities are best served.
Council embarked on an ambitious journey that saw the arts play a role in regeneration and
renewal, creatively responding and breaking new ground with artists, arts organizations and Sligo Arts Service has continued to deliver but has been restricted in finding innovative solutions
communities throughout the city and county. that would secure and consolidate achievements in local arts provision due to dramatically-
reduced financial and human resources. At present, Sligo Arts Service promotes projects and
Sligo Arts Service for the duration of the 2007–2013 Arts Plan and subsequently, despite practices that place quality arts experiences in a range of contexts according to the framework
much-depleted resources and challenging economic times, ensured that the arts contributed established in the previous arts plan, Space for Art 2007–2012. Sligo County Council supports
to and supported the social and economic fabric of the county, contributing to the wellbeing a broad range of arts groups, organizations and activities through direct investment and grant
and quality of life of citizens. aid. The new Sligo Arts Plan 2020–2025 will aim to find new approaches to investing in and
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
developing the arts in the years ahead. This will be underpinned by a new structure within Sligo
Sligo Arts Service works in partnership with key stakeholders to deliver a high-quality arts Arts Service that will have the capacity to adopt and deliver on these new approaches. This may
service for the people of Sligo and to promote greater public involvement in the arts in a wide include procurement of specific services to deliver the objectives of this Plan with temporary
range of social and community settings. contracts of up to five years’ duration.
26 2728
Future
Direction
4
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
29Sligo Arts Plan 2020–2025 is the fifth framework document for arts The Plan makes provision for a mid-term review so as to for Sligo’s diverse cultural footprint, with a widespread
development by Sligo County Council. Rather than replace the previous ensure that the recommendations that we adopt now desire to see more links created between and among
will be dynamic, responsive and open to change as we performing companies, museums, galleries and
plan, it will augment, complement, reinforce and build on the successes
move through the next phase of development. libraries, heritage and the range of cultural activities
and profile of arts development in Sligo. It will do this through policy delivered locally.
development, innovative programming, best practice and critical Sligo Arts Service will continue to collect quantitative
thinking and evaluation. The actions set out in the Plan will be regularly data and implement the Arts Council’s guidelines on Sligo County Council will always seek to work
reviewed, tracked for progress and monitored by Sligo County Council quality measurements, for example, to capture the collaboratively and in partnership wherever possible,
social impacts of its programmes. particularly with the individuals and organizations
Strategic Policy Committee for Culture. supported by its various programmes.
Reflecting the substantial economic changes that
have occurred in the past ten years, both locally and The challenge now will be to increase the resources
nationally, this Plan will bring fresh perspectives and available for artists and culture broadly, through
new approaches based on the insights of a great partnerships with a host of national and international
many practitioners. bodies in the public, private and voluntary sectors.
This new Plan will pay attention to the holistic case for
Much has been achieved already to the benefit of arts and culture – the argument that arts and culture
the arts and cultural community and, importantly, have an impact on our lives in complex, subtle and
to the people of Sligo. Indeed, Sligo has achieved interrelated ways, and that each benefit relates to a
considerable success in increasing cultural provision cluster of other benefits. The aim of Sligo Arts Plan
and engagement throughout all parts of Sligo. Sligo 2020 –2025 is to restore Sligo Arts Service to its role
County Council has always been ambitious in the quality of strategic leadership and to build on over 20 years of
and delivery of its services. This is a critical juncture support to the arts by Sligo local authority.
“This new Plan will pay attention to the
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
holistic case for arts and culture – the
argument that arts and culture have an
30
impact on our lives in complex, subtle and 31
interrelated ways...”32
Framework
Legislative
6
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
33National Context
The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht provides the resource, policy Sligo Arts Service makes an annual funding application to The Arts Council to support the
and legislative framework to support the stimulation and development of the arts County Arts Development Programme. In 2016, the Arts Council and the City and County
in Ireland. The goal of the Department’s Arts Division is to promote and develop Managers Association (CCMA) published A Framework for Collaboration agreement. The
purpose of the agreement is to highlight the value and clarify the current position of the 30-
Ireland’s artistic and creative strengths at home and abroad and to maximize their
year strategic partnership between the Arts Council and local authorities nationwide and to
societal, economic and reputational value for the country. The department works
set out a vision and broad goals for what is to be achieved by the partners over the next ten
to enhance access to the arts by promoting and encouraging artistic expression,
years.
cultural awareness and participation.
Under A Framework for Collaboration, Sligo County Council and the Arts Council will enter into
The Department funds and works closely with the Arts Council and Screen Ireland to secure
an eight-year Framework Agreement setting out our shared strategic priorities, which will align
the implementation of appropriate and effective strategies for the arts in partnership with the
closely with the priorities of the Arts Plan. Our shared strategic action headings are:
artistic community and film industry. The Department’s Culture Ireland Unit promotes Irish arts
and artists abroad. Government funding for the arts is generally channeled through The Arts
1. Supporting Artists
Council, which, although funded by the Department, is completely independent in its funding
2. Young People and the Arts
allocations and the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has no role to play in its
3. Music Development
funding or executive decisions. The Arts Act 2003 underpins the Council’s independence in
this context. The Department has recently published Culture 2025 – A National Cultural Policy 4. Arts Participation.
Framework, which clearly articulates the important role of culture in Ireland and which will set
out a road map for what the cultural sector wants to achieve leading up to 2025. In 2019, the Arts Council presented its second three-year plan, for the years 2020 to 2022,
under its strategy, Making Great Art Work 2016–2025. The continuing strategic partnership
The Arts Council is the national agency for funding, developing and promoting the arts in Ireland. with local authorities will be central to its work, having renewed and developed the relationship
The Council recognizes that the arts have a central and distinctive contribution to make to our over the past three years.
evolving society. Established in 1951 to stimulate public interest in and promote the knowledge,
appreciation and practice of the arts, the Arts Council advises the Minister and other public The Arts Council also prioritises opportunities for the arts in creative and community place-
bodies on the arts. It provides financial assistance, mainly but not exclusively, to artists and making as part of Project Ireland 2040, the Irish government’s national framework for strategic
arts organizations; it supports others who develop and promote the arts; it publishes research planning. In order to harness such opportunities in Sligo, the reinstatement of the post of
and information as an advocate for the arts and artists and it undertakes a range of projects to Arts Officer is essential to ensure that the arts are present and central to all aspects of policy
promote and develop the arts, often in partnership with others. formulation and decision making.
The Arts Council’s own ten-year strategy, Making Great Art Work 2016–2025, identifies the
following priorities:
Arts Council/Sligo County Council shared strategic actions
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
»» The Artist: Artists are supported to make excellent work that is enjoyed and valued
»»
1. 3.
Public Engagement: More people will enjoy high-quality arts experiences
»» Investment Strategy: Public monies are invested effectively to realize priorities
»» Spatial and Demographic Planning: Well-planned arts provision to benefit people across the country
»» Developing Capacity: Building knowledge, skills and inventiveness to realize this strategy. Supporting Artists Music Development
34
2. 4. 35
Young People & the Arts Arts ParticipationThe Creative Ireland Programme The Local Framework
Creative Ireland is a government programme to connect people, creativity and wellbeing, Section 6 of the Arts Act 2003 requires local authorities to prepare and implement plans for the
inspired by the multitude of cultural events that were held to mark the hundredth anniversary development of the arts within their functional areas. In so doing, local authorities may provide
of the 1916 Easter Rising. It is a five-year, all-of-government initiative, extending from 2017 to financial or other assistance in respect of activities, projects or undertakings for the purposes
2022, which aims to improve access to cultural and creative activity in every county across the of stimulating public interest in the arts, promoting knowledge, appreciation and practice of the
country. arts or improving standards in the arts within their functional area.
‘Creative Ireland places culture and creativity at the centre of public policy and at the centre of The arts as defined in the Arts Act 2003 incorporate ‘any creative or interpretative expression
our lives, for the betterment of our people and for the strengthening of our society . . . ‘. Creative (whether traditional or contemporary) in whatever form and including in particular visual arts,
Ireland is built around five pillars: theatre, literature, music, dance, opera, film, circus and architecture and includes any medium
when used for those purposes.’
1: Enabling the Creative Potential of Every Child
2. Enabling Creativity in Every Community In preparing Sligo Arts Plan 2020–2025, Sligo Arts Service is informed by a range of Sligo County
3. Investing in our Creative and Cultural Infrastructure Council plans and policies including the council’s Corporate Plan 2020-2024, the purpose of
4. Ireland as a Centre of Excellence in Media Production which is to describe the main priorities for Sligo County Council in a five-year timeframe.
5. Unifying our Global Reputation.
Sligo Arts Plan 2020–2025 will seek to support the achievement of the aims of the Corporate
Local authorities are responsible for delivering Pillar 2, Establishing Creativity in Every Plan. The Corporate Plan has three broad aims:
Community. At its heart is collaboration – within local government, between central and local
»» develop a strong economy
government, between culture and industry, between artists and policy makers – to facilitate an
»» enhance quality of life
ecosystem of creativity. Each local authority delivers Pillar 2 through a Culture and Creativity
»» safeguard the quality of the environment, through supporting our communities and working
Plan for its county.
toward a shared purpose to deliver prosperity across the county.
The work of Sligo Arts Service informs the Sligo Culture and Creativity Plan. It is a mechanism
Sligo Arts Plan is aligned to Sligo County Council’s policy statement on climate change and
for co-operative development of the cultural services of the local authority led by the Creative
sustainability, set out in Sligo County Development Plan 2017–2023, which is: ‘To plan for the
Ireland co-ordinator, the County Librarian and chaired by the Director of Service. Changes in
impacts of climate change, increasing resilience through appropriate adaptation and embracing
government policy and wider shifts in the arts and cultural landscape at national level may have
opportunities for sustainable development’.
an impact on the environment within which the arts operate at county level over the course of
this plan.
Sligo Arts Plan will adhere also to policy positions set out in Sligo County Development Plan
and Sligo Local Economic and Community Plan 2016–2021 (LECP), which aim to promote
a more integrated and targeted approach to addressing the strategic social, community and
economic issues facing the county in a way that meets the priority needs of the community.
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
What constitutes the ‘needs of the community’ is heavily influenced by the views sought from
the communities themselves through the LECP process of consultation and collaboration but
within the context of government policies and priorities.
‘Creative Ireland places culture and creativity at Creative industries are highlighted in the Local Economic and Community Plan 2016–2021
as ‘a key micro enterprise growth sector and Sligo has the second highest number of creative
the centre of public policy and at the centre of our businesses in the western region’ (LECP, p.65). There are opportunities for the creative sector
to contribute to and benefit from the Sligo County Council initiative, Smart City. The LECP also
36
lives, for the betterment of our people and for the recognizes tourism as a priority, with large potential for economic and employment growth and, 37
within this, cultural tourism such as festivals and for international tourism segments the cultural
strengthening of our society . . .’ and literary heritage associated with the site of the Spanish Armada shipwrecks in north Sligo
and the poet WB Yeats and his brother, the painter Jack Yeats.38
Sligo
County
Profile
7
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
39Sligo, the
beating heart of About County Sligo Sligo’s unique archaeological and historical remains
comprise more than 5,000 recorded archaeological
sites dating back over 6,000 years, including the
the north- west
County Sligo, located in the northwest of
Neolithic sites of Carrowmore, Carrowkeel and
Ireland, encompasses a total land surface of Creevykeel. The beautiful landscape and rich cultural
approximately 1,837.11 sq. km, bordered by heritage has inspired many musicians, artists and poets,
Counties Leitrim, Roscommon and Mayo, and including Lilly and Lolly Yeats, WB Yeats and Jack B
flanked to the west by almost 200 km of Atlantic Yeats, Michael Coleman and even a saint, St. Colmcille.
coastline. The county has a varied natural This has given Sligo strong international recognition on
landscape with limestone mountains, such as which to base a thriving tourism industry. (Sligo County
Benbulben and Benwiskin, other interesting Development Plan 2017–2023, Consolidated Draft).
upland terrain including the Ox and Bricklieve
Mountains, numerous picturesque lakes Sligo has one local authority, Sligo County Council, with
(Loughs Gill, Arrow, Glencar, Easky, Gara and three municipal districts, namely Ballymote-Tubbercurry,
Talt), enclosed farmland and a diverse coastline the Borough District of Sligo and Sligo-Drumcliffe. Sligo
city is the administrative capital and largest town in the
comprising low-lying cliffs, indented shoreline
county.
and sandy beaches.
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
40 41Demographic Economic
The population of County Sligo is 65,535
65,535 The largest centre of population in the Northwest, The public sector remains the most important employer
according to the 2016 census (Central Statistics Sligo city has grown to be a regionally important in County Sligo, with a high concentration in Sligo city.
Office), a slight increase on 2011, making it the urban centre, serving as the administrative, Tubbercurry is the county’s second largest employment
third most populated county in Connaught.
County Sligo population commercial, service, health and educational centre. Outside the urban areas, agriculture remains
focus for a large hinterland. Sligo city is a an important part of the local economy, while tourism
Over 29,000 people live in urban areas, making up and other small-scale, rural-based economic activities
designated regional centre in the government’s
39.8% of the population, which reflects the national
trend (37.3% in rural areas). Sligo city’s population 19,199 Project Ireland 2040 and is one of two Gateway
cities designated by the National Spatial Strategy
continue to support a substantial population living
in villages and in the countryside (Sligo County
Development Plan 2017-2023).
of 19,199 makes it the county’s largest urban area
Sligo city’s population in the Border region of Ireland. Project Ireland
by some distance, although Tubbercurry experienced
2040 states that, due to Sligo’s pharmaceutical Institute of Technology Sligo has been delivering
a 13.7% population growth between 2011 and 2016.
industry, engineering capabilities and higher courses in the arts since 1972. Under the previous arts
There was a decline in the rural population in Sligo of
1,621, which was offset by an urban increase of 1,763,
which largely can be attributed to the re-classification
39.8% urban education institutions, such as Institute of
Technology Sligo and St. Angela’s College, a
constituent college of the NUI Galway, the
plan, Space for Art 2007–2012, the John O’Leary Fine
Art Graduate Award was established in partnership
with Sligo Arts Service, Institute of Technology Sligo
of Collooney from rural to urban designation.
county has a significant ‘capacity to enhance and Sligo Art Gallery. Developments at IT Sligo over the
In Sligo the number of people in the older age
categories is significantly higher than the national 39.2yrs its regional role’ (Sligo County Development
Plan 2017–2023 Consolidated Draft + Adopted
past five years have seen it grow at both undergraduate
and postgraduate levels. Institute of Technology
Sligo’s Yeats Academy of Arts, Design and Architecture
average. The average age in Sligo rose from 37.9 years Average age in Sligo Amendments, August 2017).
in 2011 to 39.2 in 2016. It is predicted that, by 2025, (YAADA) offers six distinctive programmes across the
26% of the population of County Sligo will be over 65 Institute of Technology Sligo offers a diverse range disciplines of fine art, design, architecture, literature,
of courses in business, engineering, humanities and music and theatre.
1 in 5
(LECP, 2016–2021, p.36). The age group 5–18 years
had very small increases while the 0–4 age group saw science while St. Angela’s College provides courses
a fall. Sligo is in the top five Irish towns with an ageing in nursing, health studies, home economics and The recently commissioned Festivals Strategy for County
population. Born outside Ireland education. Sligo (draft) makes specific reference to the resources
and expertise within Institute of Technology Sligo that
The percentage of non-Irish born people in County Sligo With the benefit of improvements in telecommunications, could be drawn upon for marketing and PR, digital
stood at 9.3 per cent, while just over one resident in five utilities, infrastructure and the availability of well- resourcing, tourism advice, financial management
serviced sites, Sligo Gateway has been able to establish support, general business and day-to-day operational
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
(21%) in Sligo city was born outside Ireland, with 25% of
those from Poland and Lithuania (www.citypopulation. itself as a high-quality location for business, with supports to festivals, including arts festivals, which
de). According to the government’s Social Inclusion several international companies choosing to locate in feature strongly in the draft plan. Institute of Technology
Analysis, Sligo has the highest proportion of asylum- Sligo (County Sligo Local Economic and Community Sligo is a holistic resource for festivals, which represent
seekers and refugees in Ireland – the average in each Plan 2016–2021). In 2016 there were 19 multinational such a significant focal point for the arts in Sligo.
county is 0.1% and in Sligo it is 0.3% (Social Inclusion companies located in IDA business parks in County
and Community Activation Programme 2019, Pobal/ Sligo (Finisklin and Ballytivnan in Sligo city, Collooney,
Department of Rural and Community Development). Tubbercurry and Ballymote). Sligo is also home to a
42 vibrant cluster of Irish companies. 43Cultural Profile and Arts Publicly Funded
Programme Achievements Arts Venues
Sligo is noted for its long-standing vibrant of 188 film-makers in the three counties consisting Sligo County Council is also known for its support The Michael Coleman Heritage Centre Ltd (Coleman
voluntary arts scene in which music and drama of emerging and established individual film-makers of venues such as The Model, home of the Niland Irish Music Centre), situated in Gurteen, County Sligo,
groups are numerous. Since the establishment and 16 production, post-production and interrelated Collection of twentieth century Irish art, The is dedicated to the memory of the legendary fiddle
of Sligo Arts Service, the county has seen many companies. Hawk’s Well Theatre, Blue Raincoat Theatre player Michael Coleman (1891–1945). The Centre
positive changes in its cultural profile and the Company (The Factory), The Coleman Traditional draws together the many strands of south Sligo’s rich
SLR Film project developed a joint film strategy that
delivery of arts services. Sligo Arts Service Irish Music Centre and the Hyde Bridge Gallery. traditional music heritage, fostering its preservation
aims to encourage the development of the film sector through teaching programmes and performances.
created the first public art role and the first
in the region, to better facilitate film-makers, large
public art plan, which challenged traditional The Model is a multi-purpose arts venue, whose primary
and small, from here and elsewhere to make films in The Hyde Bridge Gallery is an independent, not-for-
sculptural approaches to art projects under the focus is visual arts and whose Niland collection of
the region and to undertake actions that support the profit gallery situated in the Yeats Memorial Building,
Per Cent for Art Scheme. Other firsts include paintings by Irish artists is world renowned. The Model
viability of film-making as a profession in the region. home of the Yeats Society Sligo. The Gallery exhibits
structured intergenerational work and the has been a vital part of the expanding and diverse
work from local artists as well as artists from around
cultural life of the Northwest.
emergence of a Music Generation programme, Links have been developed with Screen Ireland/Screen Ireland. The Yeats Society produces many poetry and
which provided the opportunity to consolidate Training Ireland and the Western Region Audiovisual cultural events, hosted in its period Arts and Crafts-
The Hawk’s Well Theatre continues to undergo
and expand existing work in music education Producers Fund (WRAP). This relatively new area style building.
significant redevelopment with the assistance of
in partnership with Sligo VEC, now Mayo Sligo of activity for Sligo Arts Service is already showing
capital funding from the Department of Culture,
Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB), impressive results, generating more screenplays and
Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Sligo County Council and
Each of these venues has established itself over
and other partners. Following a successful film-making. SLR Film project is a partner in the Creative time as central to the quality of life of the people and
its fundraising campaign. The Factory Performance
application co-ordinated by Sligo Arts Service Heartlands initiative supported by the Government’s communities who access them. Ongoing investment
Space is home to the Blue Raincoat Theatre Company
in 2011, Music Generation Sligo was one of regional economic development fund. by Sligo local authority in these venues continues
and is used primarily as their theatre performance and
the first three counties established under this to sustain and allow for their ongoing development.
development space. It also hosts performances and
programme. It is now managed locally by the In addition to financial assistance, Sligo Arts Service Much of the focus in Space for Art 2007–2012
events produced by others in the culture sector.
offered bursaries and allied support to professional was on developing partnerships with these venues
lead partner MSLETB.
artists and groups until the recession of 2009–2010 and channeling arts activities and opportunities for
when these supports came to an end. In an effort engagement through their programmes with local
Sligo Arts Service over time has developed an
to continue to support artists in other ways, Sligo authority financial support. The approach was one of
extensive youth and education programme including
Arts Service has built a Continuous Professional mutually beneficial partnership, with each organization
youth theatre and new approaches to arts practice in
Development and training programme, which is offered bringing its own expertise and creativity into the mix,
the classroom. These new approaches have brought
to artists free or at subsidized rates. The CPD and supported and facilitated by Sligo County Council.
the teacher to the centre in the design and delivery
training programme covers a wide range of skills and The arts and cultural infrastructure of County Sligo is
of classroom projects ensuring integration and
competencies such as working with special educational augmented by commercially-run spaces with a strong
engagement among education stakeholders with the
needs, financial management and tax advice and cultural vision.
Primary Colours programme to enrich the primary level
practical upskilling. The programme most recently
arts curriculum, delivered by artists and supported by
introduced mentoring for artists. Sligo Arts Service
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
Sligo Arts Service.
works with Sligo County Council’s Local Enterprise
Office to ensure that artists also can benefit from
As well as maintaining long-standing successful
their services. A visual artists network is supported
programmes in Arts in Health, Music, Children and
by Sligo County Council through the Creative Ireland
Young People, Sligo Arts Service has introduced
Programme. The network is a valuable resource to Sligo
new areas for development such as film. SLR Film
County Council and to venues, both of which may draw
project was established in 2015 by Sligo, Leitrim and
on the artistic and creative services of its membership
Roscommon Arts Services, along with film-makers,
44 when shaping the creative content of an event. 45
with a view to enabling the film sector to grow and
develop. SLR Film (www.slrfilm.ie) has a membershipFestivals Festivals
Strategy
Sligo Arts Service continues to programme Other important festivals unique to Sligo that benefit In 2019, Sligo County Council commissioned A number of arts festivals are singled out for
performances and events in Sligo on an annual from varying levels of Sligo County Council support a festivals strategy with the express intention prioritization within the new strategy.
basis. Sligo International Chamber Music include Sligo Jazz Festival and Summer School, Sligo of identifying and developing festivals that will
Festival is an annual chamber music festival Baroque Festival, The Yeats International Summer realize the ambition set out in Sligo County The Festivals Strategy recommends the appointment of
that features resident virtuosi the Vogler School, Tread Softly festival that celebrates the Council’s Tourism Strategy. Describing itself as a festivals co-ordinator whose work would be funded
landscape that inspired the Yeats family, Cairde Sligo and resourced to develop the festivals in the county,
String Quartet. The festival is based mainly a ‘tactical approach towards the growth and
Arts Festival, South Sligo Summer School and Sligo maximizing their potential for development and earning
at St. Columba’s church, Drumcliffe, and The development of festivals,’ it aims ultimately to
Live, including a number of new festivals emerging in power.
Model. In consultation with Sligo Arts Service deliver up to seven festivals with visitor capability
2019 and 2020. Each is a unique offering targeting
and the Vogler Quartet, potential spaces and of 20,000 each to be supported and developed.
local, national and international audiences; all have It also recommends that funding from Sligo County
venues will be considered throughout the developed strong national and local press profiles The strategy aligns with Fáilte Ireland’s critical Council (including the Fáilte Ireland regional festivals
county to broaden the reach of the festival and and each has grown over the past five years despite success factors for festivals: funding) and Sligo LEADER programme should be
to increase its accessibility to audiences. The financial and fundraising constraints. prioritized for the above. All festivals should have access
Vogler Quartet would like to commission work, 1. each must have a clear USP with a unique,
to a range of supports such as the services of the
differentiated and focused proposition that is
bring in more prestigious international artists, festivals and events co-ordinator, training programmes
firmly embedded in people and place, and is
expand its offering and create opportunities and marketing and sales supports. Specific mention
hard to replicate in any other location
for other ensembles to move into the festival 2. each must also be able to clearly identify the
is made of strategic partnerships with Institute of
sphere in a more meaningful way. All of these target interest group or a ‘fan base’ who will
Technology Sligo and Fáilte Ireland to deliver training
developments require additional resources and travel in order to fulfil a passion and interest and mentoring, while Sligo Tourism could also play a
a broadening of the current support base for the offered by the festival proposition key role in terms of promoting Sligo, and its festivals
festival. At present, it is produced by Sligo Arts 3. each festival must connect with and reach and events, as a destination for year-round quality
these fans through sales and marketing festivals and experiences.
Service and an event management company
channels
and is an efficient operation that works well.
4. each festival must provide opportunities for Sligo Arts Service brings professional assessment skills
There is a sense that it has the potential to be its ‘fan base’ to share quality, immersive and and experience to contribute to the objectives of the
much stronger and more prominent, as there is participative experiences with like-minded Festivals Strategy. The role of Sligo Arts Service in the
nothing similar in the Northwest and nothing people.
development of independently-run festivals offering
that can boast an association with the Vogler arts content is to ensure quality standards are met
String Quartet. There is a long-term aspiration to and to support their ongoing programme development
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
work with the Vogler Quartet towards creating a and their ability to innovate. This developmental role
new ensemble in residence. is complementary to the actions delivered through the
Festivals Strategy where synergies and mutual benefits
are made possible.
46 4748
Priorities
Strategic
8
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
49A number of strategic priorities have emerged through review of
the legislative framework, the public consultation, and one-to-
one discussion with members of the arts and wider community.
Actions
The following strategic priorities are the recommended actions
associated with this plan. 2020–2025
Arts Officer Post 1 Arts Infrastructure, 4 Arts Officer Post 1
The reinstatement of the post of Arts Officer in Ecosystem & Economy 1. The fully staffed and resourced arts office will take a dynamic approach
Sligo is essential to ensure that the arts are
Sustain direct support to the established to this arts plan, ensuring ongoing review and research, continuous
present and central to all aspects of policy
cultural venues and maximize opportunities for assessment of the needs of professional artists, groups and organizations
formulation and decision making within the local
collaboration to strengthen their cultural capacity. to ensure that this plan will remain relevant and meaningful.
authority and with external agencies.
Strengthen the arts economy through inter-agency
Arts Practitioners 2 collaboration to support creatives and their
businesses.
Arts Practitioners 2
Provide for the wellbeing and sustainability of
artists to develop their careers through supportive Identify and develop new partnership
1. Sustain and renew work opportunities for artists in Sligo through Arts
arts services with accompanying resources and opportunities for added value and integration of
Office arts participation and public art programmes.
funding. the arts across sectors such as Tourism, Creative
Industries and Enterprise development.
2. Explore new work and support opportunities for arts practitioners
Monitor rates of pay to artists and comply with
across broader cultural and creative partnerships regionally, nationally
the rates recommended by artists’ membership
and internationally.
bodies and the Arts Council’s policy on artist
renumeration.
3. Work with Sligo County Council services and external agencies to identify
spaces in Sligo city and county that would meet the needs for creating,
Public 3 Art in the 5
exhibiting and performing artistic work to the public.
Participation public realm 4. Provide professional development supports and mentoring through
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
partnerships with:
Sustain, renew and initiate creative programmes Develop and enhance the cultural identity of Sligo »» national organizations such as Visual Arts Ireland, CREATE (national development
regionally, nationally and internationally, through agency for collaborative arts), Irish Theatre Institute, Irish Music Rights Organization
at community level that are inclusive and
a new round of commissioning, funded by the Per (IMRO) and others
accessible.
»» and Sligo’s established venue infrastructure of The Model, The Hawks Well, The
Cent for Art scheme.
Factory, Yeats Memorial Building and others.
Encourage people from all backgrounds to engage
meaningfully with the arts on an ongoing basis.
5. Provide longer-term artist residencies in a variety of local settings
50 51
including healthcare, education and recreation.Public Participation 3 7. Contribute to the Actions of Sligo County Council’s Festivals Strategy to
maximize the impact of Sligo’s impressive arts and, in particular, music
festivals.
1. Review and renew the Primary Colours primary school arts programme in
the context of Creative Schools and Teacher-Artist partnership initiatives.
8. Explore international partnerships and funding opportunities, for
example EU programmes designed to encourage collaboration, mobility,
2. Sustain the Council’s partnership with Music Generation Sligo and
cultural exchange and partnership to expand arts and cultural activity
explore ways for further collaboration.
in Sligo.
3. Develop the Sligo Youth Theatre offering, to meet the high demand for
9. Explore partnership opportunities for creative sector/creative
participation. Explore potential partnerships with schools, MSLETB or
industries through Sligo Local Enterprise Office, Institute of Technology
Creative Ireland to expand opportunities for engagement.
Sligo Innovation Centre and other hubs, the Western Development
Commission and North West Regional Assembly.
4. Work with the HSE, Healthy Ireland and other programmes to design and
develop arts interventions that improve social inclusion, mental health
10. Evaluate the impact of the SLR (Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon) Film
and wellbeing through engagement with older people and people with
Project and allocate resources based on the evaluation findings.
disabilities.
11. Resource Sligo Arts Service adequately to support inward productions
5. Research and develop ways of enabling people from culturally diverse
(film industry) as an important growth area bringing significant benefits
and marginalized backgrounds to engage meaningfully with the arts on
to the local economy.
a long-term basis.
12. Redesign the brand of Sligo Arts Service.
Arts Infrastructure, 4
13. Upgrade Sligo Arts Service website, www.sligoarts.ie, to integrate
social media platforms.
Ecosystem and Economy
1. Through programme partnerships identify opportunities for collaboration
with the network of professional venues and festivals in County Sligo.
Art in the Public Realm 5
2. Provide for and facilitate arts programming in smaller population centres
throughout the county so that the arts can continue to grow at a local 1. Facilitate new opportunities for engagement between artists and the
level. public.
3. Broaden the reach of the Sligo International Chamber Music Festival by 2. Continue to commission a variety of projects across all of the art
considering new performance spaces and venues throughout the county. forms and to offer artists opportunities to create art in different public
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
contexts.
4. Looking to the future of the Festival and a new generation of audiences,
plan with the Vogler Quartet for creating a new ensemble in residence. 3. Re-establish the Public Art Steering Group to
»» Develop a commissions plan
»» Oversee the delivery of the commissions plan
5. Sustain the practice of commissioning composers to create new work for
»» Identify opportunities for public engagement with communities.
the Festival.
52 6. Review and renew the Bealtaine Festival. 5354
Conclusion
9
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
55The new Sligo Arts Plan has encapsulated its work over
the next five years in three words: it will sustain, renew
and collaborate to achieve its aims.
Firstly, Sligo Arts Service will renew itself and further enhance its ability to make
the arts accessible and inclusive to all through the re-establishment of the post of
Arts Officer, aiming also to staff and resource the post adequately, thereby ensuring
that s/he is poised to deliver on the ambitions of the new Sligo Arts Plan.
The work of Sligo Arts Service has always been firmly rooted in principles of quality,
access, inclusion and long-term value. Sligo Arts Plan sets out a course of action
that will ensure that Sligo Arts Service is well supported by elected members and the
executive of Sligo County Council, the Arts Council and other key strategic partners,
local and national. Investment in the arts over the 20 years of Sligo Arts Service
has been significant and the next five years will see Sligo Arts Service work with
stakeholders to focus investment where it is most needed. Priorities for investment
will include enhanced bursaries and financial supports to artists, professional
development programmes for artists and supporting creative networks to ensure
they are sustainable.
Sligo Arts Service will consider and evaluate all of its work with an overall mid-term
review planned for Sligo Arts Plan. This will inform relevant changes in the work, as
does essential knowledge of the changing arts context nationally and internationally.
Whilst programming exceptional arts initiatives and showcasing new directions
in the arts nationally and internationally is still a key role for Sligo Arts Service,
there exists a high standard of professional arts knowledge and delivery throughout
County Sligo, demonstrated through the excellent programmes of the venues and
festivals. The role of Sligo Arts Service in the context of the new Sligo Arts Plan will
be a supporting one, adding value to these programmes, supporting new approaches,
Sligo Arts Plan 2020 - 2025
facilitating collaborations and taking a strategic approach to the development of
the arts. The professional expertise and experience of the staff of Sligo Arts Service
is a considerable cultural resource for the county. The continued development of
Sligo Arts Service is predicated on these expert staff resources.
56 57Appendix 1
Consultation:
Needs and
A series of public consultations and interviews
with key stakeholders and stakeholder groups
was carried out between May and July 2019 and
1
baseline of agreed
these have informed this plan. The consultation guiding principles
Opportunities process engaged with artists and cultural
2
practitioners, directors of arts organizations,
interested members of the public and county
council staff.
In addition, a questionnaire was circulated, to which
individuals and organizations responded.
5
actions prioritised to
guiding principles inform
strategic priorities
reflect principles and
The questionnaire looked at respondents’ profiles, their
current level of engagement with the arts, barriers to
participation and needs and priorities for the future.
strategic priorities
recommended
Out of these consultations, internal and external,
guiding principles were identified followed by priorities
underpinning policy areas leading to recommended
actions
actions as follows:
4 3
strategic priorities
underpin key policy areas
actions identified
under each policy area
58 59Appendix 2
Glossary
Advocate Arts venues Ireland 2016 Sligo Local Community and Economic Plan
Publicly supporting or recommending a particular course of action or Spaces in which art is presented including galleries, arts centres, The 1916 state programme to mark the hundredth anniversary of the 2016–2021
policy. theatres, concert halls. 1916 Easter Rising through a large series of public cultural events Sligo County Council’s six-year plan for the promotion of economic
that explored issues of community, identity, culture, heritage and development and local and community development within the local
citizenship.
Amateur arts Broker authority area, through strategic planning and targeting of resources.
Engaging or engaged in the arts without payment; non-professional. Arranging or negotiating an agreement between stakeholders. The plan is drawn up by Sligo Local Economic Development Committee
Making Great Art Work 2016–2025 (LCDC). Each local authority is required to draw up its local plan.
The ten-year strategy of the Arts Council.
Arts Council Commissioning
The Arts Council of Ireland is the Irish government agency for The act of procuring the creation of a piece of art, composition, writing SLR Film
developing the arts. The Arts Council works in partnership with artists, – an original work, often on behalf of government or business, for Participatory arts Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon Film Project www.slrfilm.ie.
arts organizations, public policy makers and others to build a central example classical music ensembles often commission pieces from Participatory art is a term that describes a form of art that directly
place for the arts in Irish life. composers, where the ensemble secures the composer’s payment from engages the audience in the creative process so that they become Smart City
private or public organizations or donors. participants in the event. A Smart City is an urban area that uses different types of electronic
Arts festivals Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to collect data and then use insights
Arts festivals may feature a mixed programme that include music, Creative Ireland Per Cent for Art Scheme gained from that data to manage assets, resources and services
literature, comedy, children’s entertainment, science or street theatre, Creative Ireland is a five-year, all of government culture, creativity A government initiative dating from 1978 whereby one per cent efficiently.
and are typically presented in venues or public spaces over a period and wellbeing programme committed to the vision that every person of the cost of publicly-funded capital, infrastructural and building
of time ranging from as short as a day or a weekend to a month. in Ireland should have the opportunity to realize their full creative development is reserved for the commissioning of artworks. Socially engaged practice
potential. Within the programme, every local authority develops a Socially engaged practice describes art that is collaborative, often
Culture Plan for its county to deliver the second strand of ‘enabling
Arts in education Primary Colours Programme participatory and involves people as the medium or material of the
creativity in every community’. work.
Engagement of artists in the design, development and delivery of Primary Colours is a children’s arts programme to enrich the primary
education programmes in formal education settings such as primary school arts curriculum delivered in Sligo by practising artists.
and secondary schools. Creative/community Place-making Visual arts
Creative or community place-making is an evolving field of practice
Professional Artists The visual arts are art forms that create works that are primarily visual
that intentionally leverages the power of the arts, culture and creativity
Arts Officer Full-time, working exclusively as a creative, usually with a formal in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking,
to serve a community’s interests while driving a broader agenda for design, crafts, photography, video, film-making, animation and
Professional arts manager employed by local authorities to advise, qualification, more accurately referred to in terms of career stage –
change, growth and transformation in a way that builds the quality architecture.
advocate, broker, design and deliver arts policy through working with emerging, mid-career or established artists.
of place. These definitions should not be taken too strictly as many artistic
stakeholders, national and local.
disciplines (performing arts, conceptual art, textile arts) involve
Project Ireland 2040
Arts Plan Culture 2025 The Irish government’s long-term, overarching planning strategy that
aspects of the visual arts as well as arts of other types. Also included
This is the National Culture Policy Framework of the Department of within the visual arts are the applied arts such as industrial design,
A sequence of steps to be taken for a strategy to succeed. It may also aims to make Ireland a better country for all of its people.
Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht. graphic design, fashion design, interior design and decorative art.
be called an action programme.
An arts plan has three elements:
Public art
1. Specific actions Curator YAADA
Public art are works of art in any media created for and in the context
2. Timing: when it will be done A curator selects and interprets artworks (from among the entire range Yeats Academy of Arts, Design and Architecture, Institute of
of the civic realm, be it the built or natural environment.
of arts practice). In addition to selecting works, the curator is often Technology Sligo
3. Resource allocation: what specific funds are
available for specific activities. responsible for documenting, cataloguing and sourcing other content
to support art exhibitions and performances. Sligo County Council Corporate Plan
2020–2024
Arts Strategy Sligo County Council’s plan setting out its priorities during the five-year
60 A method or plan chosen to bring about a desired future, such as Grant 61
timeframe of the plan.
Support offered in a competitive environment to specific projects and
achievement of a goal or solution to a problem. Drawing on all of the
plans with conditions attached.
resources available to achieve high-level, overarching aims.You can also read
